![]() ![]() Another distinctive conversion was carried out by Pacific Airmotive as the PacAero Tradewind. In one case, the aircraft was modified to a triple tail, trigear, humpbacked configuration and appeared similar to a miniature Lockheed Constellation. Through the years, 32 variations of the basic design had flown, over 200 improvement modification kits were developed, and almost 8,000 aircraft were built. Ĭonstruction of the Beechcraft Model 18 ended in 1970 with a final Model H18 going to Japan Airlines. A total of 109 H18s was built with tricycle undercarriage, and another 240 earlier-model aircraft were modified with this. Unusually, the undercarriage was developed for earlier-model aircraft under an STC by Volpar, and installed in H18s at the factory during manufacture. The Model H18, introduced in 1963, featured optional tricycle undercarriage. All later Beech 18s (sometimes called Super 18s) featured this taller fuselage, and some earlier models (including one AT-11) have been modified to this larger fuselage. In 1955, deliveries of the Model E18S commenced the E18S featured a fuselage that was extended 6 in (150 mm) higher for more headroom in the passenger cabin. Nearly every airframe component has been modified. ![]() With the added weight of about 200 lb (91 kg) per engine, the concept of a Model 18 fitted with R-1340 engines was deemed unsatisfactory due to the weakest structural area of the aircraft being the engine mounts. At least one aircraft was modified to a 600-hp (447-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 powerplant configuration. The aircraft has used a variety of engines and has had a number of airframe modifications to increase gross weight and speed. ![]() The Beech 18 prototype first flew on January 15, 1937. The 450-hp (336-kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 became the definitive engine from the prewar C18S onwards. Early production aircraft were powered either by two 330-hp (250-kW) Jacobs L-6s or 350-hp (260-kW) Wright R-760Es. The Model 18 can be mistaken for the larger Lockheed Electra series of airliners, which closely resemble it. Less conventional was the twin-tailfin configuration. The design was mainly conventional for the time, including twin radial engines, all-metal semimonocoque construction with fabric-covered control surfaces, and tailwheel undercarriage. Private Beech H18 with the optional tricycle undercarriage visiting Lannion, Franceīy the late 1930s, Beechcraft management speculated that a demand would exist for a new design dubbed the Model 18, which would have a military application, and increased the main production facilities. still on the FAA Aircraft Registry in August 2017. Many are now privately owned, around the world, with 240 in the U.S. Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish stocking, dry-ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, air-mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug- smuggling, engine testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft. In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the pre-eminent "business aircraft" and "feeder airliner". In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators trained in these aircraft. ĭuring and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s were used in military service-as light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing, navigation, and gunnery), photo-reconnaissance, and "mother ship" for target drones-including United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, and AT-11 Kansan and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1 Kansan, and others. ![]() Sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tailwheels, nosewheels, skis, or floats, it was also used as a military aircraft. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969 (over 32 years, a world record at the time), over 9,000 were built, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a 6- to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. ![]()
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